• Psalm 88In Hebrew texts 88:1-18 is numbered 88:2-19.

  • 1 Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.
  • 2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
  • 3 I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
  • 4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
  • 5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
  • 6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
  • 7 Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
  • 8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
  • 9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
  • 10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
  • 11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?
  • 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
  • 13 But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
  • 14 Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
  • 15 From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
  • 16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
  • 17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
  • 18 You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.